Weather

Which best describes why winds at the beach change direction between day and night?

• because the temperatures over land and over water change

• because warm air over land sinks and stays in place over land

• because cool air rises and is replaced by warm air from the ocean

• because cool air sinks and stays in place over land

Which is the best explanation for how air masses move across the United States?

• The prevailing westerlies move air masses from west to east across the United States but may be deflected by the jet stream.

• The trade winds move air masses from west to east across the United States.

• The jet stream moves air masses from the Pacific Ocean across the United States.

• The warm air of the Gulf Stream causes air masses to move from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Which best describes a characteristic of the jet stream?

• It forms a boundary between a cold air mass and a warm air mass

• It creates the high winds around the eye of a hurricane.

• It forces the hot air along the equator to rise to areas in North America.

• It causes high pressure air masses to rotate clockwise.

What is the cause of rising surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean, drought in the western United States, and flooding on the Pacific coast of South America?

• the Gulf Stream

• the jet stream

• La Niña

• El Niño

What will most likely result when the jet stream moves south of North Carolina?

• North Carolina will experience tropical weather conditions.

• North Carolina will experience hot, dry weather.

• North Carolina will experience mild weather.

• North Carolina will experience cold weather.

Sometimes the weather in North Carolina is affected by air masses moving from the Gulf of Mexico. Which best describes these air masses?

• cold and moist

• warm and moist

• cold and dry

• warm and dry

Most warm and cold air masses that enter North Carolina are moved by global winds. Which global winds are responsible for most of the local weather in North Carolina?

• northeast trade

• southeast trade

• polar easterlies

• prevailing westerlies

What occurs when cool air moves from the beach toward the ocean during the night?

• a land breeze

• prevailing winds

• a sea breeze

• updrafts

Which factor is most helpful in determining where a thunderstorm is coming from and where it may go?

• humidity

• wind speed

• wind direction

• amount of rainfall

On a cold, cloudy day, the local weather forecaster predicts that a high-pressure system will be moving into the area in the next 24 hours. Which weather conditions will this system most likely bring to the area?

• stormy

• sunny

• snowy

• hot